Sole-edge-burnishing machine



(No Model.)

W. GORDON.- Sole Edge Burnishing Machine.

No. 241,970. Patented May 24,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GORDON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SOLE-EDGE-BURNISHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,970, dated May 24, 1881.

Application filed April 4, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM GORDON, of

' Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of resents a side view of a modification.

Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Sole-Edge-Burnishing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of soleedge-burnishing machines in which a reciprocating burnishing-tool is employed.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for laterally supporting or steadyin g a boot or shoe when the same is held in position to present the toe portion of its sole to the burnishing-tool. The tool has a tendency to throw 011' or displace laterally the sole when its too portion is being acted on, and means have to be provided to enable the operator to steady the sole and prevent its lateraldisplacement. Thefollowingdeviceshave been employed for this purpose: first, a hook adapted to be grasped by the finger of the operator; second, arest arranged to support the bottom of the sole third, a rest for the back of the operators hand, the sole bearing against the front of the same; and, fourth, two rests arrangedto support the'edges of the sole laterally, said rests being rigid and immovable, as described hereinafter.

My invention consists in the combination, with a reciprocating burnishing-tool, of a pair of lateral rests adapted to bear with a yielding pressure against the opposite edges of the sole when the latter is held in position to present the toe thereof to the too]; said rests being adapted to be moved into and out of their operative position, as I will now proceed to describe.

Of the accompanyingdrawings,forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of an ed ge-setting machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 rep- Fig. 4 represents a perspective view of the rests detached from the machine.

In these figures the same letters refer to the same parts.

In the drawings, A represents the reciprocating tool of a sole-edge-burnishing machine, the same being of any suitable constructionfor example, that shown in Letters Patent of the7United States No. 190,484, dated May 8, 187

B represents the pillar or support on which the reciprocating tool and its operating mechanism are located. The tool is reciprocated horizontally in a rectilinear path by mechanism such as is shown in the aforesaid patent, or by other suitable mechanism.

0 0 represent the lateral rests which form the subject of my invention. These rests have the following characteristics, viz: first, when in operative position each rest is adapted to bear on opposite sides of a sole, close to the toe, when the sole is held vertically in presentin g the toe thereof to the tool A; second, each rest bears against the sole with a yielding pressure, which is sufficiently forcible to materiall y aid the operator in keeping the sole in place laterally, and overcoming the tendency of the tool to displace or throw 0d the sole, at the same ti me the pressure being sufficiently yielding to enable the sole to be inclined laterally or edgewise while embraced by said rests, so that all parts of the toe portion can be presented to the tool, the rests yielding or separating to permit such inclination of the sole;

third, the rests are adapted to be readily moved out of their operative position when other parts of the sole-edge than the toe portion are to be presented to the tool.

It is obvious that the construction whereby the above-named characteristics are imparted to the rests may be variously modified.

The construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. of the drawings is, perhaps, the best of which I am at present aware, and has been found satisfactory by practical tests. In the construction shown each rest is composed of an elastic plate or arm, 1, preferably of sheet-steel, pivoted at D to a rigid arm, E, which is rigidly attached to the pillar or support B by any suitable means. Said plates or arms 1 1 are formed with two elbows or angles, as shown, whereby the outer portions, 2 2, which constitute the rests proper, are extended outwardly and up wardly from the arms E E. The outer portions, 2 2, are preferably formed with convex inner surfaces, to avoid presenting angles liable to deface the sole. The elasticity of the arms 1 1 is sulficicnt to give the rests the required yielding movement to enable the sole to be in clined cdgewise, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2; but said arms have sntiicient resistance to materially aid the operator in keeping the sole in place against the lmrnishing-t'ace oi the tool. The elasticity of the arms also permits the rests to embrace soles of different sizes. I prefer, however, to provide means for varying the normal distance between the rests, to adapt them to difi'erent-sized soles, such means consisting in a threaded rod or bolt, ll, connecting the inner portions of the arms 1 l, and provided with janrnuts J J, adapted to hold the arms 1 1 at any desired distance apart.

When it is desired to remove the rests tiom their operative position the arms 1 1 areturned hackwardly on their pivots, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1; or, it'desired, the arms 1 l, in stead of being pivoted to the arms E E, may be adapted to slide out and in upon said arms E, for the purpose of making the rests operative and inoperative, the arms 1 1 being provided with elongated slots K, and secured to the arms I) by bolts passing through said slots, as seen in the modification shown in Fig. 3, which represents the rests composed ot'straight pieces without the angles shown in the other figures.

I am aware that two lateral rests arranged to support the opposite edges oi a sole have been devised for use in a machine in which the burnishing-tool moves in a curved path cout'orming to the curvature of the toe of the sole; but such rests are rigid and not capable of lateral separation, automatic or otherwise. Hot of being moved into and out of their operative position. Therefore I do not claim the combination of lateral rests with a reciprocating burnishing-tool, excepting when the rests have the yielding character above described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In a sole-edgeburnishing machine having a ieciprocating burnishing-tool, the combination, with such tool, of two lateral rests arranged to bear with a yielding pressure upon the opposite edges of a sole when the latter is held in position to present its too portion to the burnishing-tool, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a sole-edge-burnishing machine, of a ieciprocating bnrnishingtool, and a pair of lateral rests adapted to be moved into aml out of their operative position, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the lateral rests adapted to be secured to a sole-edge-buruishing machine, of an adjustable rod ordevice for connecting said rests and varying the normal distance between the same, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whcreot'I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence oltwo subscribing witnesses, this 31st day of March, A. l). 1881.

WILLIAM GORDON.

\Vitnesses:

U. F. BnowN, \V. (Juno. 

